[Jo Yongjun's Travel Miles] Unaksan Suspension Bridge... Gapyeong's New Hot Spot

New One-Month-Old Gapyeong Travel Spot Here~
210m Suspension Bridge 50m Above Ground
Special Happiness Enjoyed at Autumn Unaksan
Baeknyeon Waterfall Flowing Unchanged for a Century

The suspension bridge installed on Unaksan, one of the five major notorious mountains in Gyeonggi Province last month

The most popular among the new tourist facilities is undoubtedly the suspension bridge. For a while, there was a boom in suspension bridge construction in local governments. Several years have passed, but the popularity of suspension bridges seems to remain strong. Recently, a new suspension bridge was built on Unaksan Mountain in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province. As soon as it was installed, it became a hot spot in Gapyeong. Unaksan (elevation 935m), located on the border between Gapyeong and Pocheon in Gyeonggi Province, has long been famous for its beautiful mountain terrain, so much so that it is called the 'Little Seoraksan.' It is one of the five major 'evil mountains' of Gyeonggi, with many steep rocks making the climb challenging, but the views you encounter make you forget the tough hike. One can only imagine the scenery from the suspension bridge on such a rugged mountain. Let's head to Gapyeong to explore this fresh new travel destination.

When standing on the suspension bridge, the overlapping mountains of Gapyeong come into full view.

The suspension bridge stretching along the rugged rock formations of Unaksan Mountain is a spectacular sight.

The name Unaksan comes from the towering rocky peaks around Mangyeongdae that seem to pierce through the clouds. It is also called Hyeondeungsan, borrowing the name from Hyeondeungsa Temple located at the foot of the mountain. Although the mountain is not large, its slopes are steep and the terrain is rugged.

There are famous spots known as the Unak Eight Views. The first is Baeknyeon Waterfall, located halfway up the hiking trail, named because it has flowed unchanged for a hundred years. The second is Darakteo Orangkaeso, where the water is said to be as cold as ice even in the midsummer heat. The third is Eyebrow Rock, the fourth is Elephant Rock, and the fifth is Mangyeongdae. The sixth is the Min Young-hwan rock inscription near Mu-u Waterfall, the seventh is the rock wall at Keungolnae Chigi, and the eighth is Nochae Aegiso in Nochae Valley, Hapan-ri.

The main trailheads are generally two starting points in Hapan-ri, Gapyeong County, and one from the entrance of Unju Temple in Pocheon County. Among these, there are two starting points in Hapan-ri. Course 1 starts from the entrance of Hyeondeungsa Temple, ascending to the right to Eyebrow Rock, Mireuk Rock, and the eastern peak of Unaksan, covering about 3.5 km and taking around 3 hours.

Hikers climbing Unaksan Mountain

The clear sound of Baeknyeon Waterfall

Course 2, which goes from the entrance of Hyeondeungsa Temple via Baeknyeon Waterfall, Hyeondeungsa Temple, and Jeolgogae Pass to the summit of Unaksan's eastern peak, is about 4.7 km long. Recently, Course 2 has changed. Instead of going directly to Hyeondeungsa Temple, the route now passes the suspension bridge. This is because the suspension bridge, a hot spot in Gapyeong, cannot be missed during the hike.

The hike begins. The refreshing green pine forest stretches for 1 km from the ticket booth entrance. After the pine forest ends, an impressive oak forest unfolds. The path to Hyeondeungsa Temple, located halfway up the mountain, is an uphill paved road.

To the left along the mountain path flows the Unak Valley. The Unak Valley is neither forceful nor grandiose, nor is it rough. Instead, it is delicate. It has a refined beauty as if sculpted by a stonemason. The entire valley seems to be made of a single rock, with the rocks flowing along with the water.

On the way up, you can encounter Baeknyeon Waterfall and Mu-u Waterfall. These waterfalls do not fall like thunder or cascade from a distant sky like unraveling threads. They are simply small and modest. The flowing water runs down the rocks, forming a clear pond below, creating a gentle waterfall.

After climbing about 1 km from the parking lot, sweat runs down my body. A sign appears indicating that Hyeondeungsa Temple is about 400 meters ahead. If you climb the wooden stairs to the left here, it leads to the suspension bridge.

Cheonnyeon Gochal Hyeondeungsa Iljumun

Before climbing the stairs, let's learn about Hyeondeungsa Temple. Hyeondeungsa is a temple built on a steep mountain ridge by stacking multiple layers of stone walls to create space and then constructing the temple on top. It is said that King Beopheung of Silla (514 AD) built it for the Indian monk Marahami (摩羅訶彌), who risked his life to bring the essence of Buddhism to the East, but it later fell into ruins.

The current Hyeondeungsa Temple is said to have been rebuilt by the Buddhist monk Jinul during the reign of King Heejong of Goryeo. Jinul saw a bright light shining from the stone lantern at the temple site in the mountain and decided to reconstruct the temple, naming it Hyeondeungsa. The name Hyeondeung means 'revealing the Buddha's teachings.'

Climbing the suspension bridge stairs, it is a height you can take a deep breath to ascend. Just as your thighs start to feel a bit tight, you reach the entrance of the suspension bridge. The suspension bridge, spanning 210 meters in length, 1.5 meters in width, and 50 meters in height, crosses the valley halfway up Unaksan and has observation decks on both sides.

With every step, the bridge sways. It is not a violently shaking suspension bridge, but the thrill continues throughout the crossing. What makes it even more dizzying is the lattice steel floor with holes. Every time you pass over the perforated floor, your calves tingle. People with weak hearts might find it hard to take a step. Although the bridge is 50 meters high, the view from there is spectacular.

Looking left while walking on the bridge, you see the bizarre rock formations of Unaksan surrounding you like a folding screen. Turning your head to the right, you see the high and low mountains of the Gapyeong area layered one after another.

Originally, this bridge was planned to be operated as a paid facility, but Gapyeong County decided to waive the fee to promote tourism, so it is free to visit.

After crossing the suspension bridge, the Unaksan hiking trail unfolds in earnest. If your purpose is just to see the suspension bridge, you can turn back here without regret. However, if you have time, the Unaksan hike is also recommended. On the way to the summit, you will pass through massive rocks, steep stone paths, and dense forests that feel dark even at midday.

Unak Valley

The folding screen rock and Mireuk Rock you encounter midway are spectacular sights. The course is not easy, requiring you to climb a vertical iron ladder, but once you reach the summit, the rocky peak offers an unobstructed panoramic view that is exhilarating and incomparable to other mountains. Centered around the main peak Mangyeongdae, the majestic rocks piercing through the clouds on each peak are a must-see.

After the hike, there is something you must not miss: the food at the restaurants below the mountain. Near the parking lot at the mountain entrance, there are several long-established tofu restaurants. Tofu hot pot, pan-fried tofu, soft tofu stew, and kongbiji (soybean pulp stew) made from locally grown Korean soybeans in Gapyeong are delicious. If you accompany these with a glass of pine nut Makgeolli, a specialty of Gapyeong, your trip to the Unaksan suspension bridge will end with a thumbs-up.

◇Travel Notes

△Getting There=Starting from Seoul, pass through Guri IC and enter the Gyeongchun Expressway, passing Daeseong-ri Station and Cheongpyeong Station. At Hacheon Intersection, head toward Ildong and Hyeon-ri, then turn right at Wonheung Intersection toward Unaksan to reach Hyeondeungsa Temple. You can search for Hyeondeungsa or Unaksan Suspension Bridge on your navigation system.

Homyeong Lake

Homyeongsan Pine Nut Forest Camping Site

△Attractions=There are plenty of attractions such as Jaraseom Island, The Garden of Morning Calm, Homyeong Lake, Petite France, Gapyeong Sheep Ranch, and Daeseong-ri. Especially in Gapyeong, there are many auto camping sites and campgrounds, making it a great destination for camping trips.